MOARD

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Israel

Agricultural research in Israel is carried out by the public and the private sectors and is primarily funded by the public sector (85%), of which the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MOARD; www.moag.gov.il) provides the major share (approximately € 50 millions in 2010). Other sources of funding include national, bi-national and international funds. The farming sector funds research through the production and marketing boards, and the Farmers Organization. The private sector funds the other 15% of the agricultural research, which is carried out mainly by manufacturers of agriculturally related products (e.g. fertilizers, seeds, irrigation equipment, pesticides etc.) and is partially supported by the Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

MOARD Chief Scientist's major goals are to identify agricultural problems in which knowledge gaps exist, to determine research goals aimed to bridge such gaps, to fund such research activity and to monitor research performance.

Financial support is given for research programs within ministry units as well as to universities and other research centers.

The major subjects that are currently supported and controlled by MOARD Chief Scientist are: